Adjustable knitting needle



Filed Jan. 15. 1967 vac INVEN'IUR. GEORGE L. INGERSOLL ATT'YS,

United States Patent 3,438,224 ADJUSTABLE KNITTING NEEDLE George L. Ingersoll, Skokie, Ill., assignor to The Boye Needle Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Jan. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 609,065 Int. Cl. D0411 3/02 U.S. Cl. 66--117 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A telescopically adjustable knitting needle which may be releasably locked in a first, telescope-d position and in a second, extended position, comprising an elongated hollow outer tube and an inner rod slidably received in the outer rod, said outer tube having a constricted end portion which passes a first portion of the inner rod but engages a second enlarged portion of the inner rod, said inner rod having a tapered end adapted to frictionally engage the pointed end of the outer tube.

BACKGROUND This invention relates to adjustable knitting needles. Knitting needles are manufactured in a variety of lengths, and a length suitable for one particular knitting application may not be suitable for another. For example, when knitting a bulky item with heavy yarn, a relatively long needle is desirable, especially if a number of stitches are to be carried on the needle. On the other hand, if light yarn is being used, a relatively long needle is unwieldy and cumbersome. Long needles also present a transportation problem, as they do not always fit conveniently into a ladys knitting bag.

This invention is an improvement over the adjustable knitting needle disclosed in Sumegi Patent No. 3,212,301. The provision of an adjustable knitting needle presents problems not involved with the provision of other telescopically adjustable articles, and these problems are not solved by Sumegi.

A primary requisite of any knitting needle is that the outside surface be very smooth. Any irregularity in the surface is apt to snag the yarn and possibly even break it. This problem is magnified when angora-type yarns are used.

The snagging problem has heretofore presented the most serious difiiculty in providing an adjustable needle, for such a needle increases the likelihood of snagging. For example, the yarn is apt to be caught between the telescoping members, and if any sort of locking means is used, the mounting of such means adds to the possibility of snagging.

SUMMARY The instant invention solves the foregoing problems. An outer hollow tube having a pointed end and an open end telescopically receives an inner rod. The inner rod tapers to an enlarged portion adjacent the inside end of the rod, and the outer tube is provided with a tapered neck portion adjacent the open end thereof. The needle may be releasably secured in its extended position by pulling the inner rod outwardly until its enlarged portion frictionally engages the tapered neck portion of the outer 3,438,224 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 tube. When it is desired to reduce the length of the needle to its closed position, a slight tap on the outer end of the tube wiil release the frictional engagement. The inside end of the inner tube also is provided with a taper, and this tapered end may frictionally engage the inner surface of the pointed end of the outer tube in order to releasably lock the needle in the closed position.

The inside diameter of the outer tube open end is substantially identical to the outside diameter of the inner rod and the open end is beveled so that a smooth peripheral joinder is formed between the telescoping members, thereby substantially eliminating any possibility of snagging yarn. The simple locking means of the inventive needle eliminates the necessity of any fixtures or attachments on either telescoping member, thereby completely eliminating any likelihood of snagging caused by the locking means.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an adjustable knitting needle which may be releasably locked in an extended or closed position and which will not snag yarn that is being knitted. Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention may be explained in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates the inventive needle in the closed position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the needle in the extended position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 1.

The numeral 10 designates generally a knitting needle, which includes an elongated, hollow outer rod or tube 11 and an elongated inner rod 12 received by the outer tube.

The outer tube 11 is seen to have a pointed end 13 and an open end 14, and the pointed end 13 is preferably provided with a rounded tip 15. The outer tube 11 includes a major longitudinally extending portion 16 having a. substantially uniform diameter and an inwardly-tapering neck portion 17 adjacent the open end 14,. The outer tube 11 preferably includes an end portion 18 between the neck portion 17 and the open end 14 which has a substantially uniform diameter which is less than the diameter of the major portion 16. However, it is to be understood that the tapered neck portion 17 may terminate at the open end 14 without an intervening end portion.

The inner rod 12 includes a first portion 19 having a substantially constant outside diameter which is only slightly less than the inside diameter of the major portion 16 of the outer tube. The inner rod 12 also includes a second portion 20 having a substantially uniform diameter which is only slightly less than the inside diameter of neck portion 17 at its most constricted or narrowest point. The first portion 19 and second portion 26 are joined by gradually tapering portion 21. The end of the inner rod 12 which is not inserted into outer tube 11 may be provided with a cap 22 which may be peened on the end of the inner rod or attached by any other suitable means.

The neck portion 17 is sized so that it will pass the second portion 20 of the inner rod but not the first portion 19, which has a larger diameter than the second portion. Thus, when the inner rod 12 is attempted to be withdrawn entirely from the inner tube 11, the tapered portion 21 of the inner rod engages the neck portion 17 of the outer tube, and an increase in the withdrawing force will cause the members 11 and 12 to become frictionally engaged with each other. These members may be frictionally locked so that they will remain in the extended position throughout any normal knitting operation by the application of a suitable withdrawing force. The frictional lock may be easily released merely by tapping the cap 22 against the palm of the knitters hand, a table top, or other object.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is seen that the outside diameter of the second portion 2% of the inner rod is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the neck portion 17 or end portion 13 at the narrowest point thereof and the open end 14% of the outer tube is beveled or rounded as at 23 so that a smooth peripheral joinder is provided between the outer tube and the inner rod. This smooth peripheral joinder substantially eliminates any likelihood that yarn will be snagged between the telescoping members.

The outer tube 11 is preferably provided with the end portion .18 so that even though a portion of the neck portion 17 may become somewhat enlarged by virtue of excessive use or excessive pulling force applied to the inner rod, the open end 14 will still remain constricted enough to prevent complete withdrawal of the inner rod. The end portion 18 may be eliminated, however, and the neck portion may terminate at the end 14.

Referring now to FIG. 4, it is seen that the inside of the pointed end .13 provides a generally conical surface 24. The end of the inner rod 12 that is inserted into the outer tube 11 is tapered to provide a frusto-conical portion 25, and the sides of the frusto-conical portion have generally the same slope as the conical surface 24. When the needle is desired to be used or carried in the closed position, the inner rod 12 is pushed toward the pointed end 13 and a slight pressure is applied so that the frustoconical portion frictionally engages the conical surface 24 of the point. In this position the needle is releasably locked into the closed position, and the needle will not inadvertently become extended during normal use. When it is desired to use the needle in the extended position, a slight pulling force on the cap 22 will release the frustoconical portion from the point 13.

MANUFACTURE The knitting needle 10 may advantageously be manufactured according to the following steps. A piece of hollow tubing is cut to the length desired for the outer tube 11, and one end of this tube is swaged to form the point 13. It has been found that this swaging operation is advantageously accomplished by means of rapidly reciprocating dies having a shape similar to the shape of the desired point. As the dies strike the tubing, the tubing is drawn through the path of movement of the dies. The point is buffed and rounded as at 15, and the open end 14 is beveled or swaged as at 23. The tube is then anodized to provide an attractively colored, smooth outer surface.

A second rod is then cut to the length desired for the inner rod 12. Inner rod 12 may be formed of solid rod stock or may also be hollow, but it has been found that a solid rod will provide a frusto-conical portion 25 having a greater surface area. A rod is chosen having an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the hollow tubing 11 and a portion of this rod is swaged to a smaller diameter being at a point intermediate the ends thereof. This swaging operation may again be carried out by drawing the rod through rapidly reciprocating dies. The shape of the dies is such that a gradually tapered portion 21 is formed between the first or unreduced portion 19 and the second or reduced portion 2% of the rod. The end of the first portion is then swaged to provide a frusto-conical portion 25 having generally the same slope as the inside of the point of the outer tube.

The rod 12 is then anodized and inserted into the hollow tube. Next, the outer tube 11 is swaged beginning at a point adjacent the open end 14 to reduce the inside diameter of the tube to approximately that of the outside diameter of the second or reduced portion 20 of the inner rod. This swaging operation again results in a gradual tapered or a neck portion 17 having substantially the same contour as the tapered portion 21 of the inner rod.

The cap 22 is then peened on the end of the reduced portion of the inner rod. The cap may also be riveted or adhesively attached to the inner rod.

Following the method just discussed will enable an adjustable knitting needle to be constructed with a minimum of steps. The exposed surfaces of the needle are anodized, thereby presenting a smooth and aesthetically pleasing, snag-free surface. The corresponding tapered portions of the inner and outer tubes provide locking means which eliminate the necessity of securing some other sort of locking means to either of the telescoping members. The attachment of such locking means would mar the anodized surface and result in an irregular outer surface on the needle, or a portion of the attaching means might protrude and present a likelihood of snagging.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the tapered portion 21 of the inner rod 12 was swaged to provide an included angle of 2 between tangential lines projected from opposite sides of the rod. The frustoconical portion 25 was also swaged to provide a 2 included angle, and the inside surface of the neck portion 17 and the point 13 were provided with correspondingly similar slopes.

While in the foregoing specification a detailed descrip tion of a particular embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purposes of explanation, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An adjustable knitting needle comprising an elongated, hollow outer tube and an elongated inner rod slidably received by said outer tube, said outer tube having a closed end and an open end, a major longitudinally extending portion of substantially uniform diameter, and an inwardly tapering neck portion adjacent said open end, said inner rod having a first longitudinally, extending portion having an outside diameter greater than the inside diameter of said neck at the most constricted point thereof and a second longitudinally extending portion having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of said neck at the most constricted point thereof, said first and second portions being joined by a tapered portion, whereby said inner rod may be partially withdrawn from said outer rod and releasably locked in an extended position by frictionally engaging said tapered portion with said neck.

2. The knitting needle of claim 1 in which the inside diameter of said outer tube open end and the outside diameter of said second inner rod portion are substantially identical.

3. The knitting needle of claim 2 in which said open end is beveled, whereby a smooth peripheral joinder is formed between the outer surfaces of said outer tube and inner rod.

4. The knitting needle of claim 1 in which said outer tube closed end is relatively pointed and one end of said inner rod first portion is inwardly tapered, whereby said inner rod may be releasably locked in an unextendcd position by frictionally engaging said tapered end with said pointed end.

5. The knitting needle of claim 1 in which said outer rod has a third longitudinally extending portion of substantially uniform diameter between said neck and said open end.

6. An adjustable knitting needle comprising an elongated, hollow outer tube and an elonngated inner rod slidably received by said outer tube, said outer tube having a point swaged on one end thereof and an inwardly tapering neck portion swaged adjacent the other end thereof, said other end being open, said inner rod having a reduced diameter portion swaged thereon, said reduced diameter portion having an outside diameter less than the inside diameter of the neck portion of the outer tube and the remainder of said inner rod having an outside diameter greater than thhe inside diameter of said neck portion, said reduced diameter portion of the inner rod being joined to the remainder of the inner rod by a swaged tapered portion, whereby the inner rod may be partially withdrawn from the outer rod and releasably locked in an extended position by frictionally engaging the tapered portion of the inner rod with the neck portion of the outer rod.

6 References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 7/ 1933 France. 12/1950 France. 8/1951 France.

RONALD FELDBAUM, Primary Examiner. 

